16:00 Exeter

Thursday 12 October 2023

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Topsham Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:01 | Winning time: 4m 0.35s

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Selected odds by:

Gerard Mentor^t,v¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Kai Lenihan⁽⁷⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 99| CD

9/1

Winner of 3 handicap hurdles at around 2m last season, including over this C&D. Has slipped to a dangerous mark (3 lb lower than for his latest success) but needs to bounce back in a major way following a string of poor performances.

Form: 6-06F85

Ferrybridge^h⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Alex Chadwick⁽⁷⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 99

6/1

Didn't show much for Michael Hourigan in Ireland but shaped with greater promise when fourth in a 13-runner handicap at Sedgefield (16.8f, good to soft) on recent debut for new connections. Possibilities here if able to build on that.

Form: 8-979P4

Bahtiyar³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr Ben Sutton⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 98

4/1

Ex-French gelding who remains a maiden in this sphere following 11 attempts. However, positive start for this yard (also first run following a wind op) when runner-up at Stratford (16.3f, good) in August and a line can be drawn through subsequent effort there (saddle slipped).

Form: 6563-2P

Happy Company^b⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Adam Wedge| T: J G M O'Shea| OR: 98

66/1

Doubled his tally in this sphere when seeing off 4 rivals at Fontwell (21.7f, good to firm) in May but ran poorly there last time. Blinkers refitted.

Form: 5722-16

Turpin Gold⁴⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Sean Houlihan| T: R Stephens| OR: 96WS

16/1

Got off the mark in a Stratford novice last September and posted his best effort since switched to handicaps when runner-up at Uttoxeter (15.8f, good) during the summer. Hasn't matched that in 3 subsequent starts, though, and others make more appeal.

Form: 84285F

Pittsburg^t⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁵⁾| T: R Potter| OR: 91| D

4/1

In good form in recent months, winning back-to-back handicap over fences at Perth and Market Rasen in August and has found just one too good on each of his last 3 starts, including when returned to this sphere at Uttoxeter last month. Solid each-way chance.

Form: 411222

Pepsiwithacap^b,t³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 90| D

22/1

Bagged a maiden hurdle for Gavin Cromwell in Ireland last year and though rather hit-and-miss since, she arrives here on the back of a solid effort at Newton Abbot (16.8f, good to soft). Reproduction of that would give her a fighting chance.

Form: B03483

Lady Valentine^p²⁰⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: David Bass| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 89WS

28/1

Successful as a 2-y-o on the Flat for Tom Dascombe and placed in handicaps for Hugo Palmer in 2022. No better than modest form since switched to this sphere, though, and has undergone a wind op since her latest start in March.

Form: 7629-

Flamenco De Kerser¹⁹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: R P McLernon| T: Mrs R Ford| OR: 87

50/1

Successful once from 5 starts between the flags but he's 0-12 under Rules and looks set for another struggle.

Form: F/PPPP5-

Vin Rouge⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 86| D

17/2

Decisive winner at Newton Abbot (16.8f, good to firm) and put in a good shift when third of 10 over the same C&D last time, conceding first run to the pair that beat him. Down another 1 lb and he has to enter calculations.

Form: P-31553

Ten Ten Twenty^t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 79

6/1

Has largely struggled since wide-margin Worcester maiden success last summer but returned to form when a close third in a first-time tongue strap at Kelso (2¼m, good) on latest start. Big player off the same mark here if able to back that effort up.

Form: 0-76653

Grinn^p,t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁵⁾| T: D A Rees| OR: 77

100/1

Long-standing maiden who is readily passed over on the back of a heavy defeat at Worcester last month.

Form: 000409

Marley Head^p1,t⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 77

12/1

Fair maiden on the Flat but latest effort in that sphere in August was poor and he hasn't shown much in half-a-dozen runs over hurdles. Hopes pinned on the first-time cheekpieces sparking improvement.

Form: U6-8986

Tally's Son³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-4| J: Miss Thomosina Eyston⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 75

25/1

Finally opened hurdles account at Stratford in August but failed to fire next time and his profile is too patchy for comfort.

Form: 726417

Cawthorne Cracker^t³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 71

16/1

Showed more than he did in a trio of junior hurdles when third on handicap debut back from a break at Southwell (15.8f, good to firm) last month. Needs to brush up on his jumping but could have a part to play if able to do so.

Form: 9P5-3

Non-Runners

Time To Burn³¹

Weight: 10-2| Age: 5

T: N J Hawke J: Non Runner

Dolly Bird¹⁸⁵

Weight: 10-2| Age: 5

T: C Honour J: Bryan Carver

Forecasts

Pittsburg (4/1), Bahtiyar (4/1), Ten Ten Twenty (6/1), Ferrybridge (6/1), Vin Rouge (17/2), Gerard Mentor (9/1), Marley Head (12/1), Cawthorne Cracker (16/1), Turpin Gold (16/1), Pepsiwithacap (22/1), Tally's Son (25/1), Lady Valentine (28/1), Time To Burn (33/1), Flamenco De Kerser (50/1), Dolly Bird (50/1), Happy Company (66/1), Grinn (100/1)

A chance is taken on FERRYBRIDGE, who stepped up on what he showed in Ireland when fourth at Sedgefield on his first start for the James Owen yard. This low-mileage 5-y-o will be a serious contender if able to build on that. Ten Ten Twenty went close at Kelso last month and is feared most off the same mark, while Bahtiyar, the consistent Pittsburg and Vin Rouge are others to consider.